Civil War Commemoration

This pastoral scene shows Bethlehem prior to the outbreak of the Civil War.

Beginning in 2011, the country will celebrate the Sesquicentennial (150th) of the Civil War, or, as many refer to it, The War Between the States.

Though most of the tributes will be held during the 150-year anniversaries of battles and related events (2011-2015), some programs will extend through 2016.

“The Pennsylvania Civil War 150 Commemoration is far more than a formal remembrance,” said Barbara Franco, executive director of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

“It is a collection of stories brought to life that are as epic as the fields at Gettysburg, or as small as the struggles of a soldier’s wife working to survive her husband’s absence on a Pennsylvania farm. Through these stories, Pennsylvania Civil War 150 will renew interest and engagement in our state’s heritage.”

The Pennsylvania Civil War Road Show, a traveling museum experience within a 53-foot trailer, will deliver interactive exhibits and unique programming to all 67 counties in the state.

The Road Show will encourage residents and organizations in each locality to share stories and artifacts with the traveling exhibition.

Pennsylvania Civil War 150 offers a website which unlocks the personal stories of Pennsylvanians on the battlefield and at the home front, the vast Civil War collections of the state’s museums and historical societies, and the state’s numerous heritage tourism attractions and trip-planning resources. Visitwww.pacivilwar150.com for more information.